MZing in Turkey

A trip down memory lane... On holiday in Turkey back in something like 1992. I hired a MZ Kanuni and my mate Will a Honda Lead scooter. We had a great time buzzing around Cappadocia exploring the underground cities for a couple of days. The MZ was a 250 and was a sweet bike, the Honda didn't leave much of an impression but it did the job as a twist and go pretty well.

Westonzoyland NSA / VMCC Sprint

Sprinting is the purest form of motorcycle sport. Just a bike, a rider and a straight line. Held on oft bleak and lonely wartime airstrips it is an enthusiasts sport. There is something genuine and authentic in the atmosphere, no glory just the drive to ride and go fast. Machines competing are diverse in performance and style but with the singular purpose of shaving hundredths of seconds from times.

This is what it is all about. Home fettled bikes
running straight lines, no big egos, no bullshit.

Harley V-Rod.

Triumph Trident straight liner.

Well used and original BSA Sloper parked up
in the paddock.

I saw this Nourish Triton in the bike park at the VMCC Shepton
Autojumble the previous weekend. Now here it is with different
pipes and more extreme rearsets.

50cc Moto Morini.

Triumph JAP special.

Henry Body. Living legend.

 And here's Henry in action.

Tyre warming a Ducati.

Weslake speedway engined machine.

Nippy Lambretta.

Here's how you tyre warm a Turbo 'Busa.

Sweet MZ ES250 Trophy in the bike park.

Totally unrelated but I had a nice ride home
through Somerset countryside and spotted
this Stanley Steamer outside of a pub. How
often do you see that?

On further examination I was pretty sure that it
was a replica. No less stunning for it. The condition
seemed to be just too good and it has subtle
front disc brakes.

MZ TS150 brochure 1974

Here's the brochure for the DDRs finest from 1974, the MZ TS150. Never had an old MZ, or at least one that worked properly and was on the road. Folks speak highly of them, must give one a go some day... 

Dig the bike leathers / two stripe tracksuit cross over riding gear the chap is sporting.

MZ TS150 brochure page 1.

MZ TS150 brochure page 2.

VMCC Dorset Winter Run

Sunday morning and it wasn't raining or snowing nor too cold for the time of year. Seemed like a good idea to get out on the Norton for a ride, the last chance before heading back to sea for work and five bike-less weeks. The VMCC Dorset Section Winter Run wasn't far to get to for the start so I headed over to Gillingham along with twenty or so other folks.

I've had a thing for these earles forks MZs for a while. I did own
one for some time but it wasn't on the road and needed a fair bit
of sorting out. At the time I needed the money so I passed
it on. Certainly not everyone's cup of tea but I hope to get
 a decent roadworthy one to experience sometime along the way.

Detail on the MZ ES250/1 Trophy.

AJS 650cc twin. I followed this bike on the run
for a good while. Postwar AJS / Matchless
bikes don't have a reputation as roadburners
but this machine kept up a lively pace in
touring comfort.

BMW R80 ST is fairly ideal for winter roads.

Lovely original AJS 16MS at the lunch stop

Detail on the AJS 16MS. Original Lucas battery case.

Dragon Rally 2015 pt 4

More Dragon Rally machinery.

Well used Norton 16H.

Jawa with strange Christian shopping basket atop the front
wheel!

BSA M20. Pretty much an ideal bike for the Rally.

Shopping trolley trailer.

Vincent Black Prince. Great to see it used in earnest. Bravo!

We saw this Royal Enfield Bullet diesel combo riding to the
Rally. If you like slow bikes this should be pretty much your
ideal. This contraption is viciously slow.

Incongruous massive double adult sidecar hooked up to a
BMW K100RS. 

Awesome eighties airbrush art unicorn coupled with Vetter
luggage for full effect.

Great winter rally bike. BMW R100 combo with EML sidecar.

Hmmm... wonder where that BMW EML combo above comes
from?

Beautiful Garrard sidecar coupled to a BSA Thunderbolt.

Love and Hate. MZ thug with box sidecar and skis.

Sprite trials bike.

I used to have a BMW R100R just like this one.
Seeing this made me feel quite nostalgic. Great
bike, undergeared for motorway use but superb
handling and brakes and a blast to ride on twisty
roads. 

Lovely unrestored New Imperial.

Rider's view of the New Imperial.

This Velocette was ridden over from the Netherlands.

Another MZ combo with box chair.

Dragon Rally 2015 pt 3

A few pictures of bikes at the Dragon Rally that caught my attention. Something great about the rally is that every one of the bikes there is used and used properly. Somehow they look sexier with a little road dirt and use. Great to see folks making an effort to turn up on some fairly unlikely machinery.

Austell Pullman from the early 90s fitted with a BMC car
engine. Designed as a sidecar bike and sold as a kit. The
most charitable description of the looks is 'functional'.
Somehow appealing though and very practical.

These two mopeds were bought for the rally and ridden
down the day before. A Honda Camino and a Peugeot Vogue.
Had a chat with one of the guys and he said that both 'peds
were very capable of the trip mechanically but that comfort
was lacking. He was on his 43rd consecutive Dragon!
Bravo gentlemen, bravo.

Peugeot Vogue moped.

Very tidily turned out Triumph TR6.

Rare Villiers-engined Panther.

Plenty of MZs around and about.

Skis! Not quite sure how they work but they
looked very purposeful.

Guess the charging on this Norton 16H isn't very good!

Norton 16H again.

A trio of Honda Cubs.

Indian Scout 101 from 1928. I didn't walk around the whole
site but I'm pretty sure this was the oldest machine there.
Well done that man!

Close up of Indian Scout 101.